- A gunman killed four people near Lakeland,
Florida , Sunday morning, officials said. - The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody after two gunfights with police.
- The suspect has been identified as a former marine and veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
A former marine sharpshooter and veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars shot and killed four people near Lakeland, Florida, on Sunday morning before exchanging gunfire with police and surrendering, officials said.
The victims included a mother, 33, and her 3-month-old baby boy, who she was holding at the time she was found, as well as the baby's grandmother, 62, and a 40-year-old man, who officials have identified as Justice Gleason.
An 11-year-old girl was also shot multiple times but is expected to survive, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. The family dog was also killed.
There was no known connection between the suspect and the victims.
The suspect was taken into custody after being shot in a gunfight with sheriff's deputies, Judd said. He has been identified as 33-year-old Bryan Riley, who Judd said served four years as a marine before being honorably discharged.
Riley was deployed to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010, where he was designated as a sharpshooter, according to Judd.
Riley's girlfriend told police he had post-traumatic stress disorder and that she had seen him depressed before but not violent. However, in the past week, he had been telling her that he was speaking directly to God.
Judd said police received a call about a suspicious vehicle on Saturday night near the crime scene. The man in the vehicle, now believed to be Riley, had told a person in the neighborhood that God had sent him there to speak to a person named Amber who was going to commit suicide.
The person told Riley there was no one named Amber there and that they would call law enforcement if he didn't leave, Judd said. Deputies responded, but did not find Riley or the vehicle.
Nine hours later, around 4:20 a.m., deputies heard gunfire and received calls about an active shooter. When they arrived at the home, they saw Riley outside in camouflage, but they did not see a firearm, and he ran into the house, Judd said. There were also glowsticks laid out and forming a path up past the house.
Deputies then heard gunshots, as well as a woman screaming and a baby whimpering, so they entered the home and found Riley wearing a bulletproof vest and other body protection as well, Judd said. Riley engaged the deputies in multiple shootouts, during which he was shot once. He eventually surrendered, walking out of the home with his hands up.
Judd said when Riley was being transported to the hospital he told police he was taking methamphetamine and was saying things like "you know why I did this."
Officials are still investigating and processing the crime scene, where Judd said there were some concerns about the potential of booby traps.